Bicycle shoe sole

ABSTRACT

Bicycle shoe sole ( 1 ) comprising a pedal plate ( 3 )adapted to a bicycle pedal comprising fixing means, the line (QA 2 ) of the pedal plate corresponding to the position of a pedal axis of the bicycle pedal being dislocated rearwards relative to the point (GG) on the bicycle shoe sole corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint by 20 to 60 mm, preferably by 35 to 45 mm.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention relates to a bicycle shoe sole according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as also to a corresponding pedal plate for being fixed to same, an intermediary for being inserted in same, as well as a bicycle shoe comprising such a bicycle shoe sole.

[0002] In the bicycle racing sport, pedal-shoe arrangements have been used for years, wherein the pedal and the shoe sole comprise engagement means corresponding to each other for fixing the shoe on the pedal. For this purpose, various systems exist, which, however, exhibit certain common features. These consist in the provision of a pedal plate having a design adapted to the pedal-side engagement means, in particular hooks or catch means, and such a configuration of the engagement means that a fixing of the shoe relative to the pedal ensues in the longitudinal direction.

[0003] With the known systems, the pedal plate is mounted on the shoe sole in such a position that subsequent to the engagement with the pedal, the pedal axis lies in the height of the fetlock joint of the wearer of the bicycle shoe.

[0004] By this arrangement, it is at the same time fixed that the fetlock joint, when the pedal is worked, describes a circular path together with the pedal axis around the bottom bracket axis.

[0005] As a result of the inventor's biomechanical considerations and researches, the finding was gained that particularly for riding ascending slopes, this geometry is not optimal. The inventor has in particular gained the finding that a more efficient use of the thigh musculature (in particular with riding under an increased load, hence, for example, with the mentioned riding of ascending slopes) is then possible, when with pedal positions upstream of the vertical plane comprising the bottom bracket axis (in the riding direction), a longer power arm (lever) is active.

[0006] For the technical realization of this finding, a pedal construction was proposed, wherein the pedal axis carries a connecting rod, on which are then arranged the mentioned pedal-side engagement means. It is achieved by means of this structure that the circular movement of the (primary) pedal axis about the bottom bracket axis is superposed by an additional circular movement of the pedal—basically only formed by the engagement means—about the pedal axis. In the superposition of these movements actually ensues a variable lever arm of the pedal in the above-outlined manner.

[0007] This solution is implemented in practise but affords a relatively high constructional expenditure, is therefore expensive and has moreover turned out for many bikers to require habituation.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object to indicate an arrangement for technically realizing the mentioned biomechanical finding, which is constructively simple and hence feasible in a cost-efficient manner, and which enjoys a high user acceptance.

[0009] The invention embraces the basic idea based on the mentioned finding of the advantageousness of a foot movement having a frontwards displaced center relative to the bottom bracket axis—and hence a non-constant lever arm relative to the bottom bracket axis—to indicate means for the realization of such a movement arranged on the shoe itself instead of on the pedal.

[0010] The invention further embraces the idea to provide for this purpose a rearwards displacement of the shoe-side engagement means, hence towards the heel, in contrast to the normal position determined with known systems. This displacement lies in particular between 20 and 60 mm, and in one biomechanically preferred configuration between 35 and 45 mm.

[0011] In a particularly purposeful realization, it is achieved by a corresponding rearwards dislocation of the engagement means for the attachment of the pedal plate on the shoe sole relative to that area of the shoe sole configured for receiving the fetlock joint or the ball of the foot. With a system known per se for attaching the pedal plate on the shoe sole, which system comprises three bores arranged at an equilateral triangle, all of the bores are dislocated rearwards relative to the point on the shoe sole corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint. With further fixing systems comprising in a similar manner lengthwise orientated grooves in the shoe sole and a retaining plate having screw bores, the grooves and the retaining plate or the bores therein are equally displaced rearwards relative to the point corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint.

[0012] With a further known bicycle-shoe-pedal-plate system, wherein the pedal plate is fixed via an intermediary (a so-called interface) placed in a correspondingly shaped recess of the shoe sole, these indications apply to the mentioned interface instead of the shoe sole itself.

[0013] A secure and stable fixation of the pedal plate in the proposed area is in particular facilitated by a broadening of the shoe sole orientated towards the inner side. Usual shoe sole contours following the foot pad to a large extent and in some cases even exhibiting (for esthetical reasons) a stronger contraction in the middle area than the foot pad itself, offer the possibility for securely fixing the pedal plate in the proposed area symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the shoe only in a restricted manner. A significant outward dislocation relative to the longitudinal axis of the shoe is out of the question, since the foot would in this case be too close to the pedal crank.

[0014] The herewith proposed broadening of the shoe sole is to be provided in at least one area in which the displaced engagement means of the systems known for fixing the pedal plate on the shoe sole are arranged, hence it extends at least over one partial portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the shoe sole.

[0015] Advantages and functionalities of the invention result, moreover, from the subclaims, as well as from the following description of preferred embodiments by means of the Figures. Therein shows:

[0016]FIG. 1 a drawing (bottom view) of a bicycle shoe sole having a pedal plate screwed on according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 a drawing (bottom view) of a bicycle shoe sole according to a second embodiment of the invention, without a pedal plate, and

[0018]FIG. 3 a drawing (bottom view) of a bicycle shoe sole having the interface inserted bearing a pedal plate according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 1 shows as a schematic diagram (not true to scale) a bicycle shoe sole 1 for a racing bicycle shoe onto which sole, by means of screws 5, a pedal plate 3 is screwed, which is adapted to a racing pedal having two catch hooks.

[0020] Essential geometry-determining (mathematical) axes of the bicycle shoe sole 1, are a “longitudinal axis” LA, running parallel to the vertical frame plane and marking the largest longitudinal extension of the shoe sole with a shoe correctly locked with the pedal, and a thereto perpendicular first transverse axis QA₁, on which the fetlock joint of the wearer of the shoe rests, and a second transverse axis QA₂, on which the center point of the longitudinal extension of the pedal plate rests, and which marks the pedal axis in the state of the shoe sole locked with the pedal.

[0021] The pedal plate 3 having a rounded triangular basic design comprises three oblong holes 3 a for the insertion of the screws 5, which engage into (not shown) screw bores in the sole 1, and is lengthwise displaceable by a determined amount relative to the shoe sole by means of the oblong holes.

[0022] It is typical for the illustrated embodiment that, for one, the second transverse axis QA₂, relative to which the first transverse axis QA₁, marking the fetlock joint GG, is positioned rearwards towards the heel by about 40 mm, in that the screw bores for the screws 5 are arranged dislocated by a corresponding amount as compared to a conventional shoe sole. For another, the shoe sole exhibits on the inner instep a broadening 1 a (outlined dashed in the Figure) in contrast to the contour of a conventional shoe sole. Said broadening 1 a guarantees that around the rearwards dislocated instep-side screw bore still sufficient sole material is arranged, so as to securely prevent a tearing out even under high load, and that the corner area of the pedal plate 3 arranged in this place rests plane on the shoe sole. FIG. 2 shows a bicycle shoe sole 1′ modified relative to the first embodiment, wherein a different fixing system—known per se—is realized for the (here not shown) pedal plate. This system comprises two grooves or slots 7 a, 7 b parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis LA, downstream of which grooves or slots a retaining plate 9 having two screw bores 11 a, 11 b are arranged lengthwise displaceable in the interior of the shoe sole 1′. The (likewise not shown) fixing screws for the pedal plate pass through the grooves 7 a, 7 b and are screwed into the screw bores 11 a, 11 b. By means of a corresponding drive, the pedal plate and the retaining plate are locked in a force-transmitting manner with the shoe sole material in between, whereas after releasing the drive, the pedal plate is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the sole.

[0023] The geometrical conditions explained with the first embodiment apply analogously to the here shown sole 1′; in particular the grooves 7 a, 7 b and the retaining plate 9 are correspondingly dislocated towards the heel by 35-45 mm as compared to a known arrangement, which entails a corresponding displacement of the second transverse axis QA₂ relative to the first transverse axis QA₂. A broadening of the sole is not shown in this configuration, so as to illustrate that this is not in any case necessary. In particular by a design of the pedal plate adapted to a conventional sole contour, the secure hold of the pedal plate on the shoe sole can be obtained, if the case may be, even with an unmodified sole shape.

[0024] In FIG. 3 is shown as a further embodiment of the invention a bicycle shoe sole 1″ comprising an intermediary 13 designated as “interface” inserted in the sole, to which intermediary a modified pedal plate 31″ is mounted in this structure. The type of mounting of the pedal plate 3″ to the intermediary 13 is here not shown in detail; it can likewise ensue by screws or pins, as well as, if the case may be, by bonding or by a one-piece formation with the intermediary, for example, as an injection-molded part of one material.

[0025] With the bicycle shoe sole 1″, an instep-side broadening 1 a″ is again provided in the area of the pedal plate 3″, said broadening, however, is more restricted than it is configured in the embodiment as per FIG. 1.

[0026] The realization of the invention is not restricted to the here described examples and the systems known for fixing a pedal plate on a bicycle shoe sole—having or not having an interface—but can likewise be realized in a plurality of variants within the scope of the skilled person's activity.

List of Reference Numerals

[0027]1; 1′; 1Δ bicycle shoe sole

[0028]1 a; 1 a broadening area

[0029]3; 3″ pedal plate

[0030]3 a oblong hole

[0031]5 screw

[0032]7 a, 7 b, 7 c, groove (slot)

[0033]9 retaining plate

[0034]11 a, 11 b screw bore

[0035]13 intermediary (“interface”)

[0036] GG fetlock joint

[0037] LA longitudinal axis

[0038] QA₂, QA₂ transverse axis 

1. Bicycle shoe sole comprising a pedal plate adapted to a bicycle pedal comprising fixing means, characterized in that the line on the pedal plate corresponding to the position of a pedal axis of the bicycle pedal is dislocated rearwards relative to the point corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint by 20 to 60 mm, preferably by 35 to 45 mm.
 2. Bicycle shoe sole comprising a pedal plate adapted to a bicycle pedal comprising fixing means, characterized in that the line on the pedal plate corresponding to the position of a pedal axis of the bicycle pedal is in the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole.
 3. Bicycle shoe sole comprising engagement means, in particular bores and/or grooves for fixing a pedal plate adapted to a bicycle pedal comprising fixing means, characterized by such an arrangement of the engagement means that the line corresponding to the position of a pedal axis of the bicycle pedal in the fixed state of the pedal plate relative to the point on the bicycle shoe sole corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint, is dislocated rearwards by 20 to 40 mm, preferably by 35 to 45 mm, or is in the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole.
 4. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 3 , characterized by three bores arranged in a triangle configuration, in particular as an equilateral triangle, all of which bores are dislocated rearwards relative to the point on the bicycle shoe sole corresponding to the middle of the fetlock joint.
 5. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 3 , characterized by two grooves parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle shoe sole, below which grooves a retaining plate having screw bores is arranged in the interior of the bicycle shoe sole, the frontmost adjustable position of the screw bores in the grooves being displaced rearwards relative to the point on the bicycle shoe sole corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint.
 6. Bicycle shoe sole comprising an oblong recess and an intermediary having engagement means to be rigidly inserted in said recess, in particular bores and/or grooves for fixing a pedal plate adapted to a bicycle pedal comprising fixing means, characterized by such an arrangement of the engagement means that the line on the pedal plate corresponding to the position of a pedal axis of the bicycle pedal in the fixed state of the pedal plate, is dislocated rearwards relative to the point on the bicycle shoe sole corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint by 20 to 60 mm, preferably by 35 to 45 mm, or is in the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole.
 7. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 1 , characterized by an area broadened at the inside at least in one portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole relative to the contour of a foot pad.
 8. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 2 , characterized by an area broadened at the inside at least in one portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole relative to the contour of a foot pad.
 9. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 3 , characterized by an area broadened at the inside at least in one portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole relative to the contour of a foot pad.
 10. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 4 , characterized by an area broadened at the inside at least in one portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole relative to the contour of a foot pad.
 11. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 5 , characterized by an area broadened at the inside at least in one portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole relative to the contour of a foot pad.
 12. Bicycle shoe sole according to claim 6 , characterized by an area broadened at the inside at least in one portion of the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole relative to the contour of a foot pad.
 13. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 1 .
 14. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 2 .
 15. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 3 .
 16. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 4 .
 17. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 5 .
 18. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 6 .
 19. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 7 .
 20. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 8 .
 21. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 9 .
 22. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 10 .
 23. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 11 .
 24. Pedal plate for being fixed to a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 12 .
 25. Intermediary for being inserted into a bicycle shoe sole comprising an oblong recess adapted to the contour of the intermediary, the intermediary comprising engagement means, in particular bores and/or grooves for fixing a pedal plate adapted to a bicycle pedal comprising fixing means, characterized by such an arrangement of the engagement means that the line on the pedal plate corresponding to the position of a pedal axis of the bicycle pedal in the fixed state of the pedal plate, is dislocated rearwards relative to the point on the bicycle shoe sole corresponding to the center of the fetlock joint by 20 to 60 mm, preferably by 35 to 45 mm, or is in the middle third of the longitudinal extension of the bicycle shoe sole.
 26. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 1 .
 27. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 2 .
 28. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 3 .
 29. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 4 .
 30. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 5 .
 31. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 6 .
 32. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 7 .
 33. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 8 .
 34. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 9 .
 35. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 10 .
 36. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 11 .
 37. Bicycle shoe comprising a bicycle shoe sole according to claim 12 . 